Tuesday, March 31, 2015, 3:57 p.m.

Fort Smith base hosting F-16s from Tulsa

FORT SMITH — The 188th Fighter Wing's Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith is currently hosting seven F-16C Falcons and 40 maintenance, operation and support personnel from the Oklahoma Air National Guard's Tulsa-based 138th Fighter Wing.

Runway and taxiway construction at the 138th have hampered flying operations for the Tulsa unit, and it will use the 188th facilities to ensure the 138th effectively utilizes its flying hour allotment and maintains its pilot and maintenance personnel training currencies.

The F-16s and the Oklahoma Airmen who fly and maintain the aircraft are expected to remain at the 188th until mid-June.

The 188th is familiar with the F-16. The wing flew F-16s from 1988 until 2007 when it transitioned to A-10s.